IEA at COP28: 3DEN Initiative – Implementing tomorrow’s smart power systems

Dubai time: 6 December 2023, 15:30-17:00.

Modern and digital grids are vital to safeguard electricity security and ensure affordable clean energy transitions. In line with a global pathway to net zero emissions by 2050, grid investment nearly doubles by 2030 to over USD 600 billion per year after over a decade of stagnation, with emphasis on digitalisation, which plays a critical role in enhancing the reliability, flexibility and efficiency of power systems. In most emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs), grid investment is falling behind, a worrying signal given the prospect of rapid increases in electricity demand.

Under the Digital Demand-Driven Electricity Networks Initiative (3DEN) initiative, supported by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, the IEA has developed guidance and analysis to help inform policy making in emerging economies, notably on opportunities to scale up investment in power infrastructure, ensuring the benefits associated with digital investments are widely shared.

The event will bring together international organisations, leading private sector and representatives from emerging economies to share visions for the policy and technology context needed to enable smarter power systems of tomorrow, present initial findings from demonstrations and projects on the ground on ways to leverage digitalisation towards power system decarbonisation and gather their insights on opportunities to further accelerate implementation and amplify impact.